Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the 17th installment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme, providing Rs 20,000 crore to over 9.26 crore farmers. Farmers can check their beneficiary status online on the official PM-Kisan portal.
Results for: Varanasi
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is targeting a record margin of victory in the Varanasi Lok Sabha seat, with thousands of party leaders and workers campaigning extensively for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is seeking a third consecutive term. The constituency, considered sacred in Hinduism, has been a focus of development initiatives highlighted by the BJP, including a new ropeway project, infrastructure work, and the establishment of a National Institute of Fashion Technology.
Pilgrimage tourism in India is experiencing a resurgence, with travel agencies reporting a surge in demand ranging from 30% to 100% compared to last summer. Despite the heat, travelers are flocking to popular pilgrimage destinations such as Ayodhya, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Uttarakhand, the Char Dham circuit, and Tirupati. Hotel companies are also benefiting from the increased demand, with Sarovar Hotels & Resorts projecting a significant contribution from religious and pilgrimage travel. The hotel industry is expected to record a 7-9% revenue growth in FY25, underpinned by domestic leisure travel, including pilgrimage tourism.
As the country prepares for the final phases of the 2024 general elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Varanasi today to hold a ‘Matri Shakti Sammelan’ (women empowerment gathering) on June 1st. The event will see him interact with over 25,000 women in his Varanasi parliamentary constituency, where he is seeking a third consecutive victory. The development comes after the fifth phase of voting concluded on May 20th, with over 57% voter turnout recorded across 49 constituencies in six states and two Union territories. Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla Lok Sabha constituency registered its highest polling percentage in nearly four decades, with over 54% voter turnout. Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Yogender Chandoliya has dismissed opposition claims that his party is against the ideals of B.R. Ambedkar, the architect of India’s Constitution, highlighting the party’s respect for Dalit leaders.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on May 15 rejected comedian Shyam Rangeela’s nomination from Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi parliamentary constituency, stating that it was “incomplete.”
Rangeela, who shot to fame for impersonating Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had submitted his nomination papers as an independent candidate. He had been alleging difficulties in submitting his nomination since May 10.
After the rejection of his nomination, Rangeela alleged that citizens were being deprived of their right to contest polls and that while he did not hope to win, he wanted to send out a message.
The Varanasi District Magistrate and Returning Officer (RO) said that the nomination papers had been scrutinized in Rangeela’s presence and that he had been informed of the “deficiencies.”
The Congress Party has raised concerns over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s performance in Varanasi, his adopted constituency, alleging neglect and failure to deliver on promises. Despite spending ₹20,000 crore on the ‘Namami Gange’ project, the Ganga River has become dirtier, and eight villages adopted by Modi have seen little progress in terms of development.
A 32-year-old man, identified as Deepak Gupta, tragically died on Wednesday after collapsing during a workout at a gym in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. According to a report by TOI, CCTV footage captured the incident, showing Gupta touching his head with both hands before collapsing. Fellow gym members rushed to his aid and took him to the hospital, but he was pronounced dead upon arrival.
Comedian Shyam Rangeela, known for his impersonations of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has announced his intention to run against Modi as an independent candidate in the upcoming Varanasi elections. Rangeela expresses his determination to contest “wholeheartedly” and sees his candidacy as a means to ensure the vitality of democracy beyond mere symbolism. Despite potential obstacles, including scrutiny from the Enforcement Directorate, Rangeela remains confident in his decision, emphasizing that his accounts will bear no wrongdoing.
Siddharth Singh, son of former mafia don-turned-politician Brijesh Singh, has been scammed of over Rs 11 lakh by a cybercriminal posing as a paint company director. The fraudster, identified as Amit Singley, lured Singh into depositing money for a dealership after responding to an online advertisement. The cyber crime police have registered an FIR under various IPC sections and are investigating the case.